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Virginia SJ 290 — Constitutional amendment; criteria for electoral districts (first reference) (2017)

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Redistricting
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SJ 290 was introduced in the Virginia General Assembly during the 2017 legislative session. The bill proposed a constitutional amendment establishing criteria for electoral districts. Although SJ 290 was adopted by the Virginia State Senate, it failed to clear the Virginia House of Delegates.[1]

Note: This page summarizes a noteworthy law regarding redistricting in Virginia. It is not part of a comprehensive list of redistricting legislation for this year or state.

Background

Redistricting in Virginia

See also: Redistricting in Virginia

Redistricting is the process by which new congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn. Each of Virginia's 11 United States Representatives and 140 state legislators are elected from political divisions called districts. United States Senators are not elected by districts, but by the states at large. District lines are redrawn every 10 years following completion of the United States census. The federal government stipulates that districts must have nearly equal populations and must not discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity.[2][3][4][5]

Virginia was apportioned 11 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives after the 2020 census, the same number it received after the 2010 census. Click here for more information about redistricting in Virginia after the 2020 census.

HIGHLIGHTS
  • Following the 2020 United States Census, Virginia was apportioned 11 congressional districts, which was unchanged from the number it had after the 2010 census.
  • Virginia's House of Delegates is made up of 100 districts; Virginia's State Senate is made up of 40 districts.
  • In Virginia, congressional and state legislative district boundaries are set by a 16-member commission comprising state legislators and non-legislator citizens. The General Assembly must vote to approve the maps without amending them. If the General Assembly rejects the first set of draft maps, the commission must submit another. If the General Assembly rejects this second set of draft maps, the Virginia Supreme Court is tasked with enacting new maps.

    • Legislative history

    Originating in the Virginia State Senate, SJ 290 was referred to the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections on January 11, 2017. The committee reported favorably on the bill on January 31, 2017. On February 6, 2017, the Senate approved the bill by a vote of 31-9. The bill then moved to the House, where it was assigned to the House Committee on Privileges and Elections. The bill ultimately died in the committee.[1]

    Provisions

    Had SJ 290 been approved and the constitutional amendment adopted, the following criteria for electoral districts would have been established:[6]

    1. "Every electoral district shall be composed of territory that is contiguous and compact, such that nearby areas of population are not bypassed for more distant populations, and shall be drawn utilizing existing political boundaries, including the boundaries of counties, cities, towns, election districts, and voting precincts, to the maximum extent possible. Electoral districts shall be as nearly equal in population as is practicable. However, variations in the size of districts, within the deviations permitted by applicable law, may be permitted if necessary to facilitate compliance with other reapportionment criteria."
    2. "No electoral district shall be drawn for the purpose of favoring or disfavoring any political party, incumbent legislator or member of Congress, or other individual or entity."

    See also

    External links

    Footnotes

    1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Virginia's Legislative Information System, "SJ 290 Constitutional amendment; criteria for electoral districts (first reference)," accessed November 27, 2017
    2. ↑ All About Redistricting, "Why does it matter?" accessed April 8, 2015
    3. ↑ Indy Week, "Cracked, stacked and packed: Initial redistricting maps met with skepticism and dismay," June 29, 2011
    4. ↑ The Atlantic, "How the Voting Rights Act Hurts Democrats and Minorities," June 17, 2013
    5. ↑ Redrawing the Lines, "The Role of Section 2 - Majority Minority Districts," accessed April 6, 2015
    6. ↑ Virginia's Legislative Information System, "Senate Joint Resolution No. 290," accessed November 27, 2017
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